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On Thursday, January 20, The town of McKenzie was awarded a Community Black Development grant for $350,000.

The money will be spent on water line replacement and paving projects. The project plans to resurface around 7,206 linear feet on Wise Road, Davison Street and South Garland Road.

Approximately 1,390 linear feet of class 200 PVS water line will be installed on South Garland Road. The current pipe is 60 years old iron and galvanized steel.

Wise Road, Davison Street and South Garland Street will have just under 40 new water services installed.

Kay Ivey gave remarks and joined Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Director Kenneth Boswell to hand out Community Development Block Grant awards in The State Capitol’s Old House Chamber. The Community Development Block Grants totaled more than $18 million to help 51 communities across Alabama complete vital infrastructure projects according to Gov. Ivey’s office.

Mayor Lester Odom said he would like to thank Gov. Ivey and Ken Boswell, director of ADECA, Chris Sells- state representative, Clyde Chambers, Cara Stallman and Paxton Reese.

Odom said this grant would not have been possible without LeeAnn Water, town clerk, and Wayne Smith, town water operator.

“The put in countless hours of work to bring this grant to fruition and I am very thankful to both of them,” Odom said.